PA state harbor designated as a clean harbor

Published 11:43 am, Monday, April 25, 2016

PORT AUSTIN  Port Austin State Harbor is the first public marina in Michigan to receive the honorable designation of a Michigan Clean Marina by the Michigan Clean Marina Program (CMP) Committee.

The Clean Marina Program (CMP) is a joint undertaking by the Michigan Boating Industries Association, Michigan Sea Grant, and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. According to a press release, it is the policy of a clean marina to protect the health of boaters, staff and the environment by preventing the discharge of pollutants of the water, land and air.

The harbor staff, our boaters, and the community are all delighted that the Port Austin State Harbor is the first State of Michigan operated marina to receive the Clean Marina certification, said George Lauinger, supervisor for the DNR, in a press release. We expect boaters will seek harbors that have this certification and we expect a boost in harbor business and to the community economy. This is important because Port Austin is a community that relies on tourism business. But more importantly, this is an excellent example of how the environment and the economy can and should always nurture each other.

The clean marina designation begins with a pledge to participate in the program, followed by workshops where the marina management and staff receive a marina handbook, overview of the designation process, and a review of best management practices. The facilities then conduct self-evaluation of their environmental practices to determine their strength and weaknesses. After implementing improvements and reaching a level of competencies, the marina requests a visitation by a CMP consultant, which serves as an evaluation of the facilitys environmental stewardship. When the facility reaches established goals, they receive their designation.

The management and staff of Port Austin State Harbor have implemented excellent policies and procedures addressing environmental practices and protections they have in place within their marina, stated Van W. Snider, Jr., CAE, president of Michigan Boating Industries Association, in the release.

The Clean Marina designation is applicable for a three-year period at which time the facility must be re-designated.

For more information about the Port Austin State Harbor, call (989) 856-4411. For more information about the Michigan Clean Marina Program, call Van Snider at (734) 261-0123, ext. 205.